Coronavirus: What you need to know for Wednesday

Wednesday

On Tuesday, Florida officials confirmed the state’s third coronavirus case — a sister of one of the first two Florida residents confirmed to have the illness.

According to the Florida Department of Health:

Number of pending test results: 16

Number of negative test results: 24

Number of people under public health monitoring: 247

Florida has three labs that can test for the virus — in Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami.

Across the U.S., the number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 120 in at least 11 states, the Associated Press reported. There have been nine deaths in Washington state.

Here’s a look at some of the other developments over the last 24 hours.

Florida officials identify third coronavirus case

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that a third coronavirus case has been positively identified in the state — a sister of one of the first two Florida residents confirmed to have the illness.

The Florida Department of Health said Sunday that Florida’s first two COVID-19 cases are a Manatee County man in his 60s and a Hillsborough County woman in her 20s who traveled to Italy.

The Hillsborough County woman’s sister has now tested positive as well. She also traveled to Italy and is a California resident, but is being isolated in Florida.

"She’s been in isolation since this all was identified," DeSantis said. "Again, that was something that was contemplated."

The uptick in cases came as Florida ports, universities, school districts, hospitals, nursing homes and local governments began bracing for an expanded impact from the virus. Florida lawmakers also readied to shift extra dollars to state health officials. | Read more

Superintendent Diana Greene has ordered Duval County Public Schools take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The measures to combat the illness, which is also known as COVID-19, address student re-entry to school after travel, new-student registrations, school cleaning, school attendance and student and staff travel. Also, the district has created a special page on its website to update students, parents, staff and the public accessible at duvalschools.org/coronavirus.

The city of Jacksonville’s Emergency Preparedness Division also has launched a website resource for residents, JAXREADY.com/Virus.

The district is in "close communication with the Florida Department of Health to make appropriate operational decisions and to keep the public aware of the most current recommendations" from the state level and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Greene said. | Read the precautionary measures ordered by Greene

Tensions rise as U.S. death toll from coronavirus reaches 9

Tensions over how to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus escalated Tuesday in the United States as the death toll climbed to nine and lawmakers expressed doubts about the government’s ability to ramp up testing fast enough to deal with the crisis.

All of the deaths have occurred in Washington state, and most were residents of a nursing home in suburban Seattle. The number of cases in the U.S. overall climbed past 100, scattered across at least 15 states, with 27 infections in Washington alone.

"What is happening now in the United States may be the beginning of what is happening abroad," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noting that in China, where the outbreak began more than two months ago, older and sicker people are about twice as likely to become seriously ill as those who are younger and healthier. | Read more

FAQ: Coronavirus

Worried about the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Here is what you should be aware of, from symptoms to best practices for avoiding the disease, including what you should do if you suspect you have contracted coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | Read more

Unlike the flu, coronavirus doesn’t have a season

Viruses sail freely from person to person in the cool, dry air of winter, slowing as the weather warms and humidity weighs down the infectious spew.

But the novelty of the coronavirus – its introduction to a previously untouched population – means it could bulldoze through the spring virus barrier that limits most flu seasons.

While scientists struggle to understand the recently rebranded Covid-19 virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its transmission is similar to how the flu works. It mainly spreads from person to person who are within about 6 feet of each other, or through respiratory droplets sneezed or coughed out by an infected person. | Read more

DeSantis’ response likened to Trump missteps

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ uneven and delayed rollout of news that the deadly coronavirus has emerged in Florida drew unfavorable parallels Monday with the Trump administration’s handling of the unfolding crisis.

After refusing to provide any details last week on the number of Floridians being tested for the virus — only to be reversed a day later by his state surgeon general — DeSantis acknowledged Monday that he waited a full day before informing the public that two Tampa Bay-area residents had tested positive for the virus.

The governor, a protégé of the Republican president, insisted that state health officials were being very "proactive." But others saw only missteps. | Read more